Taking inspiration from our homies at Food Not Bombs, and as a way to make an intervention in the conversation on "cleaning up the plaza" in a low key and social way, Coffee Not Cops shares free coffee, pastries, and literature for everyone kicking it in the plaza (except the police, of course).

We want to keep the plaza as a place -- a commons -- for hanging out for all the folks who've called it their home for years. For us that means carving out a section of the plaza that is unwelcoming to the cops, who have recently made a point to occupy the area morning, noon, and night. We want to shine a light on the fact that the police presence in the plaza is for the benefit of the new gentrifiers and actually not for the safety of those of us who have hung out an lived on this corner for years.

We plan to continue doing Coffee Not Cops every other Sunday at 11 a.m. Join us with your literature, banners, music, art, food, conversation, and/or other contributions to expanding and reclaiming our neighborhood commons. And don't forget! Food Not Bombs serves every Thursday at 16th and Mission plaza. If you want to help cook, drop by Station 40 at 5pm.